Stephens College is exclusive college partner for Kansas City Fashion Week

October 10, 2017

Stephens College is pleased to announce that the college will be the exclusive college partner for Kansas City Fashion Week, providing students, faculty and alumnae unique opportunities to participate in the premier runway show.

Among those opportunities is a chance for select fashion students to submit portfolios of designs to Project Runway alumni Michael Drummond and Joshua Christensen. The award-winning designer will critique the sketches and select a winner to show her collection in the spring 2018 KCFW.

The winner, whose entry fee will be waived, will be announced during the bi-annual fashion show, which runs Oct. 10-14 at Union Station in Kansas City.

“This sort of direct access to the KCFW runway, speaks to the high caliber of design and construction of garments current Stephens students and alumnae bring to the KCFW each year,” said Monica McMurry, dean of the School of Design. “They know we bring excellence to fashion.”

KCFW has historically provided emerging designers with a solid platform from which to launch their lines of clothing or accessories. The exclusive partnership provides Stephens with special behind-the-scene access to the event, which features local, national and international designers. Students will serve as interns and alumnae will enjoy a special VIP night.

The Stephens’ Admissions team will also be on hand during a daylong seminar for fashion educators and students put on by Rightfully Sewn, a program in Kansas City that provides seamstress training for at-risk women. Maureen Lowary, assistant professor in fashion at Stephens, will be a featured speaker.

“This is a major showcase for us and exposes us to exactly the audience we want to know about us,” said Brian Sajko, vice president for enrollment management. The Admissions team will be manning an information table and received an advertising package including television time and digital advertising that promote all undergraduate majors.

KCFW considers itself “a nexus of fashion professions,” where designers collaborate with seasoned stylists, make-up artists, models and photographers to present their collections in a professional atmosphere. KCFW is popular among buyers from retail establishments, media personalities, online apparel entrepreneurs and celebrities.

This fall, 32 designers from across the country will be showing their spring/summer designs, including Stephens alumna Tonya Pesch and Tobie Marie Roberts, a senior majoring in fashion design and product development at Stephens. Last year, Irina Tevzadze, a Georgian designer and assistant professor of fashion at Stephens, showed a children’s wear collection at KCFW. Pesch will show her collection Wednesday evening, Oct. 11. Roberts had the opportunity to show her work at a preview event on Oct. 8.

Stephens has the 14th best fashion program in the world, according to Business of Fashion, London. The fashion program also tied for second in the world for both learning experience and long-term value across B.A. programs.

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